The Motorists Association of Kenya has warned that poor wheel servicing may be a key contributor to the rampant truck and bus fires along highways.
In a statement on Monday, August 18, the association claimed that a closer look at the vehicle fire incidents in the country reveals that the fires often begin at the wheels before spreading and engulfing the rest of the vehicle.
The association warned that jammed bearings, low-quality grease, neglected servicing before long trips, and counterfeit spare parts might be key culprits of the incidents.
The association has warned that unless vehicle owners take urgent steps to ensure the regular servicing of vehicles, such incidents will keep on recurring.
The government should also ensure a thorough investigation into vehicle fires to expose other culprits that cause vehicle fires and accidents, according to the association.
"But a keen observer will notice that nearly all these fires begin at the wheel hub before engulfing the rest of the bus. If we had genuine post-crash investigations, it would be clear why bus and even truck fires almost always trace back to the wheels," MAK stated.
"The likely culprits are jammed bearings, substandard grease, neglected servicing in the rush to maximise round trips, or worse still, counterfeit spare parts. In many cases, it could be all of the above combined," it added.
The announcements came just hours after a Guardian Angel bus caught fire at Soysambu along the Naivasha-Nakuru Highway, causing a major traffic snarl-up at the busy road.
Photos and videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed the bus engulfed in flames with thick black smoke billowing into the air as bystanders and motorists watched in shock.
No Injuries were reported during the accident, and the company has yet to release a statement on the incident to clarify whether the bus had passengers or not.
After the incident, security agencies were deployed at the scene to conduct investigations to determine the cause of the fire, which still remains unclear.
The accidents add to the number of already increasing road accidents that have occurred. According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), a total of 2,933 fatalities were reported between January and August 10 this year.
In a statement on Monday, August 12, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced that the government had already dispatched a team to investigate and offer recommendations to curb the accelerating rate of road accidents in the country.
During the investigations, the CS had directed the team to scrutinise accident-prone areas, reconstruct accident scenes to establish the exact causes.
The CS further urged all motorists and road users to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to traffic laws to reverse the recent worrying trend, which he described as highly preventable.
"As a ministry, we will continue working with all stakeholders to implement both long- and medium-term measures outlined in Kenya's National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028, within the available resources," the CS stated.
